The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee has
launched an inquiry into the impact the Free Trade Agreement
(FTA) the government has signed with Australia will have on
farmers, food producers, retailers and consumers.
The Government has said the arrangement with Australia will
“boost the economy by £2.3 billion and add £900 million to
household wages in the long-run”. It has further described it as
a “gateway” to the UK joining a wider trading arrangement called
the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific
Partnership.
This Australia FTA is the first ‘new’ trade deal the UK
Government has signed since leaving the European Union (EU) - as
opposed to ‘rolled over’ agreements based on former deals the UK
had with different parts of the world when it was an EU member.
The inquiry will examine, among other things:
- the impact the agreement will have on consumers, farmers,
food producers and retailers;
- whether the deal will reflect the UK's commitment to high
animal welfare and environmental practice; and
- the implications of the FTA for future trade deals with other
parts of the world.
More details about the inquiry and the full terms of reference
for the committee’s work in this area can be found here.
The Government published the text of its Free Trade Agreement
(FTA) with Australia on 16 December 2021. This followed
the publication of the agreement in
principle in June 2021.
The committee welcomes written evidence, to inform its inquiry,
from experts and stakeholders likely to be affected by the new
trading arrangements. Guidance on giving evidence to a select
committee of the House of Commons is available here.
